CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,327,957	$ 3,128,909	$ 3,589,427
Cost of goods sold	2,329,986	2,134,056	2,331,649
Gross profit	997,971	994,853	1,257,778
Selling, general and administrative expenses	441,482	429,827	533,368
Research and development expenses	54,026	59,214	58,287
Gain on sale of business/interest in properties, net	(295,971)	0	0
Operating profit	798,434	505,812	666,123
Interest and financing expenses	(61,476)	(73,116)	(57,695)
Other expenses, net	(603,340)	(59,177)	(45,478)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	133,618	373,519	562,950
Income tax expense	29,446	54,425	88,161
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	104,172	319,094	474,789
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	95,770	127,521	129,568
Net income	199,942	446,615	604,357
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(76,270)	(70,851)	(71,129)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 123,672	$ 375,764	$ 533,228
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 3.53	$ 5.03
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.06	$ 3.52	$ 5.02
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	115,841	106,402	105,949
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	116,536	106,808	106,321